Display panel

ABSTRACT

A display panel has an active region, a peripheral region, and includes active device array substrate, color filter substrate, spacers, and display medium. The active device array substrate includes first substrate and active device array layer. The color filter substrate includes second substrate, black matrix layer, overcoat layer, and color filter layer. The color filter layer includes color filter patterns in the active region and dummy color filter patterns in the peripheral region. The color filter patterns and the dummy color filter patterns define blank areas outside areas of the color filter patterns and the dummy color filter patterns arranged in a first direction. The blank areas include first blank areas in the active region and second blank areas in the peripheral region and the first blank area has a width different from at least one of the second blank areas in the first direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a display panel, inparticular, to a display panel having the gaps between the dummy colorfilter patterns located in a peripheral region that are different fromthe gaps between the color filter patterns located in an active region.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently, thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panelshave been developed toward high contrast ratio, no gray scale inversion,high brightness, high color saturation, fast response speed, and wideviewing angle. At this current stage, LCD panels featuring the wideviewing angle include twisted nematic (TN) LCD panels equipped with wideviewing films, in-plane switching (IPS) LCD panels, fringe fieldswitching (FFS) LCD panels, and multi-domain vertical alignment (MVA)LCD panels.

Generally speaking, most LCD panels adopt a color filter substratehaving the color filter layer for achieving the color display effectwhile the color filter layer includes a black matrix layer and aplurality of color filter patterns. The color filter patterns areseparated from one another to form an uneven top surface of the colorfilter substrate, so that an overcoat layer is usually required to bedisposed on a color filter layer to ensure the planarization of thecolor filter substrate. Conventionally, the black matrix layer isarranged in matrix manner in the active region while completely coveringthe peripheral region. Due to the effect derived from the patterns ofthe black matrix, a height of the top surface of the color filter layerwith respect to the substrate is different in the active region and theperipheral region. However, such height variation would cause unevennessin the height of the overcoat layer in the peripheral region. As such,an issue of unevenness in the peripheral region would be raised suchthat display panel quality would be compromised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a display panel whichmay effectively improve the evenness of the overcoat layer in theperipheral region of the display panel.

The invention provides a display panel having an active region and aperipheral region. The display panel includes an active device arraysubstrate, a color filter substrate, a plurality of spacers, and adisplay medium. The active device array substrate includes a firstsubstrate and an active device array layer disposed on the firstsubstrate. The color filter substrate includes a second substrate, ablack matrix layer, an overcoat layer, and a color filter layer. Thesecond substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The blackmatrix layer is disposed on the second substrate. The overcoat layer isdisposed on the black matrix layer. The color filter layer is locatedbetween the black matrix layer and the overcoat layer. The color filterlayer includes a plurality of color filter patterns disposed in theactive region and a plurality of dummy color filter patterns disposed inthe peripheral region and overlapped with the black matrix layer. Thecolor filter patterns and the dummy color filter patterns define aplurality of blank areas outside areas of the color filter patterns andthe dummy color filter patterns arranged in a first direction. The blankareas include a first blank area in the active region and a second blankarea in the peripheral region, and the first blank area has a widthdifferent from at least one of the second blank area in the firstdirection. The spacers are disposed on the color filter substrate and aportion of the spacers propping against the active device arraysubstrate. The display medium is located between the active device arraysubstrate and the color filter substrate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the color filter patterns and thedummy color filter patterns define the plurality of blank areas outsideareas of the color filter patterns and the dummy color filter patternsarranged in a second direction, and the first direction is perpendicularto the second direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, a long side of each of the colorfilter patterns is extending along the first direction, a short side ofeach of the color filter patterns is extending along the seconddirection, a long side of each of the dummy color filter patterns isextending along the first direction, and a short side of each of thedummy color filter patterns is extending along the second direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, a length of the long side of each ofthe color filter patterns is L, a distance between two adjacent colorfilter patterns along the first direction is D1, and a distance betweenat least two adjacent dummy color filter patterns in the first directionis equal to L+2D1.

In an embodiment of the invention, a width of the short side of each ofthe color filter patterns is W, a distance between two adjacent colorfilter patterns along the second direction is D2, a distance between atleast two adjacent dummy color filter patterns in the second directionis equal to W+2D2, and the first direction is perpendicular to thesecond direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the peripheral region is divided intoan inner peripheral region and an outer peripheral region. The innerperipheral region is located between the active region and the outerperipheral region, and the dummy color filter patterns are located inthe inner peripheral region. The display panel further includes asealant located in the outer peripheral region and located between thefirst substrate and the second substrate.

In an embodiment of the invention, a top surface of the overcoat layerover the dummy color filter patterns has a first height from the secondsubstrate, a top surface of the overcoat layer over the second blankareas has a second height from the second substrate, and the firstheight is greater than the second height.

In an embodiment of the invention, the spacers include a plurality offirst spacers and a plurality of second spacers, and a height of thefirst spacers is smaller than a height of the second spacers.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first spacers in the peripheralregion are disposed over the dummy color filter patterns and the secondspacers in the peripheral region are disposed within the second blankareas.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first spacers in the peripheralregion props against the active device array substrate and the secondspacers in the active region props against the active device arraysubstrate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the second spacers in the peripheralregion keep a distance from the active device array layer and the firstspacers in the active region keep a distance from the active devicearray substrate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the dummy color filter patterns arearranged in a checkerboard manner in the peripheral region.

In an embodiment of the invention, the dummy color filter patterns arearranged in a random manner in the peripheral region.

In an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the dummy colorfilter patterns includes an opening to define the second blank area.

In an embodiment of the invention, a size of the opening of the at leastone dummy color filter pattern is substantially equal to a size of abottom surface of the second spacers.

Based on the above, the display panel disclosed by the embodiments ofthe invention utilizes specific dummy color filter arrangement toimprove the evenness of the overcoat layer in the peripheral region.Specifically, by forming different sized gaps between dummy color filterpatterns in the peripheral region as compared to the gaps between colorfilter patterns in the active region, the problem of accumulation of theovercoat layer in certain area of the peripheral region can bealleviated. As such, the evenness of the overcoat layer in theperipheral region can be enhanced, thereby improving the display panelquality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic bottom view of a color filter layer of a displaypanel according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic bottom view of a black matrix layer of thedisplay panel according to the embodiment in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a schematic bottom view of a color filter substrate includingthe color filter layer and the black matrix layer depicted in FIGS. 1Aand 1B.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section view of the display panel having thecolor filter substrate depicted in FIG. 1C.

FIG. 3 is schematic bottom view of a color filter layer of a displaypanel according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of a color filter layer of a displaypanel according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic bottom view of a color filter layer of a displaypanel according to still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic bottom view of a color filter layer of a displaypanel according to another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A is a schematic bottom view of a color filter layer 400 of adisplay panel according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1B is aschematic bottom view of a black matrix layer BM of the display panelaccording to the embodiment in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a schematic bottomview of a color filter substrate including the color filter layer andthe black matrix layer depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 2 is aschematic cross-section view of the display panel having the colorfilter substrate depicted in FIG. 1C. It is noted that the cross-sectionview shown in FIG. 2 is corresponding to the A-A′ line in FIG. 1C.Referring to FIG. 1A, the color filter layer 400 is disposed in adisplay panel and the display panel may have an active region AA and aperipheral region PA. The peripheral region PA includes an innerperipheral region IPA and an outer peripheral region OPA. The colorfilter layer 400 includes a plurality of color filter patterns 402disposed in the active region AA and a plurality of dummy color filterpatterns 404 disposed in the inner peripheral region IPA. The colorfilter patterns 402 include a plurality of first color filter patterns402 a, a plurality of second color filter patterns 402 b, and aplurality of third color filter patterns 402 c according to the colorsof the color filter patterns 402. The first color filter patterns 402 aare arranged in a first direction MD to form the (3n−2)^(th) column. Thesecond color filter patterns 402 b are adjacent to the first colorfilter patterns 402 a and are also arranged in the first direction MD toform the (3n−1)^(th) column. Moreover, the third color filter patterns402 c are adjacent to the second color filter patterns 402 b and arearranged in the first direction MD to form the (3n)^(th) column. Inother words, the first color filter patterns 402 a, the second colorfilter patterns 402 b, and the third color filter patterns 402 c arearranged in sequential order along a second direction TD which can beperpendicular to the first direction MD. It is noted that n is apositive integer.

Similarly, the dummy color filter patterns 404 also includes a pluralityof first dummy color filter patterns 404 a, a plurality of second dummycolor filter patterns 404 b, and a plurality of third dummy color filterpatterns 404 b according to the colors of the dummy color filterpatterns 404. The first dummy color filter patterns 404 a are arrangedin the (3n−1)^(th) column, the second dummy color filter patterns 404 bare arranged in the (3n−2)^(th) column, and the third dummy color filterpatterns 404 c are arranged in the (3n)^(th) column.

In the present embodiment, the first color filter patterns 402 a and thefirst dummy color filter patterns 404 a may correspond to a first color,the second color filter patterns 402 b and the second dummy color filterpatterns 404 b may correspond to a second color, and the third colorfilter pattern 402 c and the third dummy color filter patterns 404 c maycorrespond to a third color, while the first color, the second color andthe third color are different from one another and selected from red,green and blue, but they construe no limitation in the invention. Itshould be noted that the patterns having the same color can be made byusing the same process. In addition, the color filter patterns 402 andthe dummy color filter patterns 404 may have substantially the same sizedesign. In detail, the first color filter patterns 402 a and the firstdummy color filter patterns 404 a have substantially the same size, thesecond color filter patterns 402 b and the second dummy color filterpatterns 404 b have substantially the same size, and the third colorfilter patterns 402 c and the third dummy color filter patterns 404 chave substantially the same size.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the color filter patterns 402 and the dummy colorfilter patterns 404 are rectangle patterns, for example. Particularly, along side of each of the color filter patterns 402 is extending alongthe first direction MD, a short side of each of the color filterpatterns 402 is extending along the second direction TD, a long side ofeach of the dummy color filter patterns 404 is extending along the firstdirection MD, and a short side of each of the dummy color filterpatterns is extending along the second direction TD. As illustrated inFIG. 1A, a length of a long side of the color filter patterns 402 is L,and a width of a short side of the color filter patterns 402 is W.

In addition, the color filter patterns 402 and the dummy color filterpatterns 404 are separated from one another by a distance. Accordingly,in a line in the first direction MD or the second direction TD, aplurality of blank areas 406 outside areas of the color filter patterns402 and the dummy color filter patterns 404 can be respectively defined.In other words, in the present embodiment, the blank areas 406 aredefined as the interval between the short sides of two adjacent colorfilter patterns 402 and between the short sides of two adjacent dummycolor filter patterns 404 along the first direction MD. In analternative direction, the blank area 406 can be defined as the intervalbetween the long sides of two adjacent color filter patterns 402 andbetween the long sides of two adjacent dummy color filter patterns 404along the second direction TD.

The blank areas 406 include a plurality of first blank areas 406 alocated in the active region AA and a plurality of second blank areas406 b in the inner peripheral region IPA. A width of the first blankarea 406 a along the first direction MD, which equals to a distancebetween two adjacent color filter patterns 402 along the first directionMD, is D1. On the other hand, a width D3 of at least one of the secondblank areas 406 b along the first direction MD is L+2D1. Similarly, awidth of the first blank areas 406 a along the second direction TD,which equals to a distance between two adjacent color filter patterns404 along the second direction TD, is D2 and a width D4 of at least oneof the second blank areas 406 b along the second direction TD is W+2D2.In other words, a width of the first blank areas 406 a and a width of atleast one of the second blank areas 406 b are different in apredetermined direction.

FIG. 1B is a schematic bottom view of a black matrix layer BM of thedisplay panel according to the embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1B, theblack matrix layer BM is disposed in a display panel and the displaypanel may have an active region AA and a peripheral region PA. Theperipheral region PA includes an inner peripheral region IPA and anouter peripheral region OPA. The black matrix layer BM has a pluralityof black matrix layer openings BMO arranged in an array in the activeregion AA, but there is no openings formed in the black matrix layer BMin the peripheral region PA. In other words, the black matrix layer BMis arranged in a matrix manner in the active region AA while fullycovering the inner peripheral region IPA and the outer peripheral regionOPA.

Referring to FIG. 1C, in an embodiment, the color filter layer 400 inFIG. 1A and the black matrix layer BM are combined to construct a colorfilter substrate CFS. Particularly, the color filter patterns 402located in the active region AA are disposed in the black matrix layeropenings BMO of the black matrix layer BM while the dummy color filterpatterns 404 located in the inner peripheral region IPA are overlappedwith the black matrix layer BM.

Referring to FIG. 1C and 2 simultaneously, a display panel 10 is dividedinto an active region AA and a peripheral region PA. The peripheralregion PA includes an inner peripheral region IPA and an outerperipheral region OPA. The inner peripheral region IPA is locatedbetween the active region AA and the outer peripheral region OPA.Particularly, the inner peripheral region IPA and the outer peripheralregion OPA surround the active region AA as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C. Thedisplay panel 10 includes an active array substrate AS, a color filtersubstrate CFS, a plurality of spacers PS, a display medium 600, and asealant 700, wherein the color filter substrate CFS has the color filterlayer 400 and the black matrix layer BM depicted in FIG. 1C. The activedevice array substrate AS includes a first substrate 100 and an activedevice array 300 disposed on the first substrate 200. The firstsubstrate 100 may be made of glass, quartz, organic polymer, metal, andso forth, and they construe no limitation in the invention. The colorfilter substrate CFS includes a second substrate 200, a black matrixlayer BM, a color filter layer 400, and an overcoat layer 500. Thesecond substrate 200 is disposed opposite to the first substrate 100. Amaterial of the second substrate 200 may be the same as a material ofthe first substrate 100, and it is not limited thereto. In otherembodiments, the material of the second substrate 200 may be differentfrom the material of the first substrate 100. The black matrix layer BMand the color filter layer 400 are disposed on the second substrate 200.

In addition, the overcoat layer 500 is disposed on the black matrixlayer BM for covering the color filter patterns 402 and the dummy colorfilter patterns 404, and particularly, the dummy color filter patterns404 are located between the black matrix layer BM and the overcoat layer500. A material of the overcoat layer 500 may be an organicphotosensitive resin or other suitable material. A top surface of theovercoat layer 500 over the second dummy color filter patterns 404 b hasa first height H1 from the second substrate 200, and a top surface ofthe overcoat layer 500 over the second blank areas 406 b has a secondheight H2. The first height H1 is greater than the second height H2. Inother words, the overcoat layer 500 does not have a flat surface in theinner peripheral region IPA. On the other hand, a top surface of theovercoat layer 500 in the active region AA substantially has anidentical height H3 from the second substrate 200. That is, the overcoatlayer 500 has a flat surface in the active region AA. In addition,owning that the dummy color filter pattern 404 in the inner peripheralregion IPA are overlapped with the black matrix layer BM to berelatively protruded from the second substrate 200 than the color filterpatterns 402 in the active region AA, the first height H1 is higher thanthe third height H3. Therefore, in a conventional design, the problemthat the overcoat material accumulation in the inner peripheral area IPAmay occur.

However, in the present embodiment, at least one of the second blankareas 406 b forms a concave structure, such that the unsolidifiedovercoat material for fabricating the overcoat layer 500 can easilydisperse in the inner peripheral area IPA under the configuration of thesecond blank area 406 b. Accordingly, the accumulation of the overcoatmaterial in the inner peripheral area IPA can be alleviated under thedesign of the present embodiment. In addition, the second blank area 406b has a width in the first direction MD different from the first blankareas 406 a to further help the overcoat material to evenly disperse inthe inner peripheral area IPA.

The spacers PS are disposed on the color filter substrate CFS. A portionof the spacers PS props against the active device array substrate AS soas to maintain the cell gap of the display panel 10. The spacers PSinclude a plurality of first spacers PS1 and a plurality of secondspacers PS2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a height H4 of the first spacersPS1 is smaller than a height H5 of the second spacers PS2. In the innerperipheral region IPA, the first spacers PS1 are disposed over thesecond dummy color filter patterns 404 b and the second spacers PS2 aredisposed within the second blank areas 406 b. Specifically, in theactive region AA, the second spacers PS2 prop against the active devicearray substrate AS while in the inner peripheral region IPA, the firstspacers PS1 props against the active device substrate AS. In addition,in the active region AA, the first spacers PS1 keep a distance from theactive device array substrate AS, and in the inner peripheral regionIPA, the second spacers PS2 keep a distance from the active device arraysubstrate AS.

The display medium 600 is located between the active device arraysubstrate AS and the color filter substrate CFS. The display medium 600includes liquid crystal molecule, electrophoretic display medium orother suitable display medium.

In order to completely seal the display medium 600, a sealant 700 isprovided between the active device array substrate AS and the colorfilter substrate CFS such that the display medium 600 is completelysealed in the space formed by the active device array layer 300, theovercoat layer 500, and the sealant 700.

In the present embodiment, since a plurality of second blank areas 406 bhaving different size as compared to the first blank areas 406 a areformed in the inner peripheral region IPA, the accumulation of theovercoat layer 500 in certain part of the inner peripheral region IPAcan be alleviate. Thus, the evenness of the overcoat layer 500 in theinner peripheral region IPA can be improved.

FIG. 3 is schematic bottom view of a color filter layer according toanother embodiment of the invention. The color filter layer 400Aprovided in the present embodiment is similar to the color filter layer400 depicted in FIG. 1A, and therefore identical elements in thesefigures will be denoted with the same numerals and will not be furtherdescribed hereinafter. The difference between the two embodimentsrespectively shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 1A lies in that in the presentembodiment, the dummy color filter patterns 404 only consists of firstdummy color filter patterns 404 a and third dummy color filter patterns404 c. In other words, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the secondblank areas 406 b form a ring shape surrounding the active region AAwhile in the present embodiment, the second blank areas 406 are arrangedin stripe manner along the first direction MD in the inner peripheralregion IPA. As mentioned above, the second dummy color filter patterns404 b may correspond to color green. Therefore, in the presentembodiment, the dummy color filter patterns 404 do not include greencolor filter patterns. In addition, the width of the first blank areas406 a along the second direction TD is D2, and the width D4 of thesecond blank areas 406 b along the second direction TD is W+2D2. Thatis, along the second direction TD, the width D2 of the first blank areas406 a is different from the width D4 of the second blank areas 406 b.

Similarly, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of second blankareas 406 b having different size as compared to the first blank areas406 a in the second direction TD are formed in the inner peripheralregion IPA, the accumulation of the overcoat layer 500 in certain partof the inner peripheral region IPA can be alleviate, and the evenness ofthe overcoat layer 500 in the inner peripheral region IPA can beimproved.

FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of a color filter layer according toyet another embodiment of the invention. The color filter layer 400Bprovided in the present embodiment is similar to the color filter layer400 depicted in FIG. 1A, and therefore identical elements in thesefigures will be denoted with the same numerals and will not be furtherdescribed hereinafter. The difference between the two embodimentsrespectively shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 1A lies in that in the presentembodiment, the dummy color filter patterns 404 are arranged in acheckerboard manner. As such, the second blank areas 406 b in thepresent embodiment are also arranged in a checkerboard manner, which isdifferent from the ring shape shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1A.Similar to that of the color filter layer 400 in FIG. 1A, the width ofthe first blank area 406 a along the first direction MD is D1 and thewidth of the first blank areas 406 a along the second direction TD isD2. On the other hand, the width D3 of the second blank areas 406 balong the first direction MD is L+2D1 and the width D4 of the secondblank areas 406 b along the second direction TD is W+2D2. In otherwords, all of the width of the first blank areas 406 a and all of awidth of the second blank areas 406 b are different in both firstdirection MD and second direction TD.

Similarly, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of second blankareas 406 b having different size as compared to the first blank areas406 a in the first direction MD and the second direction TD are formedin the inner peripheral region IPA, the accumulation of the overcoatlayer 500 in certain part of the inner peripheral region IPA can bealleviate, and the evenness of the overcoat layer 500 in the innerperipheral region IPA can be improved.

FIG. 5 is a schematic bottom view of a color filter layer according tostill another embodiment of the invention. The color filter layer 400Cprovided in the present embodiment is similar to the color filter layer400 depicted in FIG. 1A, and therefore identical elements in thesefigures will be denoted with the same numerals and will not be furtherdescribed hereinafter. The difference between the two embodimentsrespectively shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 1A lies in that in the presentembodiment, the dummy color filter patterns 404 are arranged in a randommanner. As such, the second blank areas 406 b in the present embodimentare also arranged in a random manner, which is different from the ringshape shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1A. Similar to that of the displaypanel 10 in FIG. 1A, the width of the first blank area 406 a along thefirst direction MD is D1 and the width of the first blank areas 406 aalong the second direction TD is D2. On the other hand, the width D3 ofat least one of the second blank areas 406 b along the first directionMD is L+2D1 and the width D4 of at least one of the second blank areas406 b along the second direction TD is W+2D2. In other words, a width ofthe first blank areas 406 a and a width of at least one of the secondblank areas 406 b are different in a certain direction.

Similarly, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of second blankareas 406 b having different size as compared to the first blank areas406 a in the first direction MD and the second direction TD are formedin the inner peripheral region IPA, the accumulation of the overcoatlayer 500 in certain part of the inner peripheral region IPA can bealleviate, and the evenness of the overcoat layer 500 in the innerperipheral region IPA can be improved.

FIG. 6 is a schematic bottom view of a color filter layer according toanother embodiment of the invention. The color filter layer 400Dprovided in the present embodiment is similar to the color filter layer400 depicted in FIG. 1A, and therefore identical elements in thesefigures will be denoted with the same numerals and will not be furtherdescribed hereinafter. The difference between the two embodimentsrespectively shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 1A lies in that in the presentembodiment, at least one of the dummy color filter patterns 404 includesan opening 410 to define the second blank areas 406 b. In other words,in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, all of the blank areas 406 arelocated outside of the color filter patterns 402 and the dummy colorfilter patterns 404 while in the present embodiment, part of the blankareas 406 are located outside of the color filter patterns 402 and dummycolor filter patterns 404 and another part of the blank areas 406 arelocated inside of the dummy color filter patterns 404. In the presentembodiment, a size of the opening 410 is substantially equal to a sizeof a bottom surface of the second spacers PS2 as shown in FIG. 2. Inother words, the second spacers PS2 in the inner peripheral region IPAis disposed in the openings 410 of the dummy color filter patterns 404in the present embodiment. The width D1 of the first blank areas 406 ais different from a width D5 of the opening 410 along the firstdirection MD. In addition, the width D2 of the first blank areas 406 ais different from a width D6 of the opening 410 along the seconddirection TD. Therefore, the width of the first blank areas 406 a isdifferent from the width of at least one of the second blank areas 406 bin the first direction MD and the second direction TD.

Similarly, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of second blankareas 406 b having different size as compared to the first blank areas406 a in the first direction MD and the second direction TD are formedin the inner peripheral region IPA, the accumulation of the overcoatlayer 500 in certain part of the inner peripheral region IPA can bealleviate, and the evenness of the overcoat layer 500 in the innerperipheral region IPA can be improved.

Based on the foregoing, the display panel disclosed by the embodimentsof the invention utilizes specific dummy color filter arrangement toimprove the evenness of the overcoat layer in the peripheral region.Specifically, by varying the gaps between dummy color filter patterns inthe peripheral region as compared to the gaps between color filterpatterns in the active region, the problem of accumulation of theovercoat layer in certain area of the peripheral region can bealleviated. As such, the evenness of the overcoat layer in theperipheral region can be enhanced, thereby improving the display panelquality.

1. A display panel, having an active region and a peripheral region,comprising: an active device array substrate, comprising: a firstsubstrate; and an active device array layer disposed on the firstsubstrate; a color filter substrate, comprising: a second substratedisposed opposite to the first substrate; a black matrix layer disposedon the second substrate; an overcoat layer disposed on the black matrixlayer; and a color filter layer located between the black matrix layerand the overcoat layer, the color filter layer comprising a plurality ofcolor filter patterns disposed in the active region and a plurality ofdummy color filter patterns disposed in the peripheral region andoverlapped with the black matrix layer, wherein the color filterpatterns and the dummy color filter patterns define a plurality of blankareas outside areas of the color filter patterns and the dummy colorfilter patterns arranged in a first direction, the blank areas comprisea plurality of first blank areas in the active region and a plurality ofsecond blank areas in the peripheral region and the first blank area hasa width different from at least one of the second blank areas in thefirst direction; a plurality of spacers disposed on the color filtersubstrate and a portion of the spacers propping against the activedevice array substrate; and a display medium located between the activedevice array substrate and the color filter substrate.
 2. The displaypanel according to claim 1, wherein the color filter patterns and thedummy color filter patterns define the plurality of blank areas outsideareas of the color filter patterns and the dummy color filter patternsarranged in a second direction, and the first direction is perpendicularto the second direction.
 3. The display panel according to claim 2,wherein a long side of each of the color filter patterns is extendingalong the first direction, a short side of each of the color filterpatterns is extending along the second direction, a long side of each ofthe dummy color filter patterns is extending along the first direction,and a short side of each of the dummy color filter patterns is extendingalong the second direction.
 4. The display panel according to claim 3,wherein a length of the long side of each of the color filter patternsis L, a distance between two adjacent color filter patterns along thefirst direction is D1, and a distance between at least two adjacentdummy color filter patterns in the first direction is equal to L+2D1. 5.The display panel according to claim 3, wherein a width of the shortside of each of the color filter patterns is W, a distance between twoadjacent color filter patterns along the second direction is D2, adistance between at least two adjacent dummy color filter patterns inthe second direction is equal to W+2D2, and the first direction isperpendicular to the second direction.
 6. The display panel according toclaim 1, wherein the peripheral region is divided into an innerperipheral region and an outer peripheral region, the inner peripheralregion is located between the active region and the outer peripheralregion, the dummy color filter patterns are located in the innerperipheral region, and the display panel further comprises a sealantlocated in the outer peripheral region and located between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate.
 7. The display panel according toclaim 1, wherein a top surface of the overcoat layer over the dummycolor filter patterns has a first height from the second substrate, atop surface of the overcoat layer over the second blank areas has asecond height from the second substrate, and the first height is greaterthan the second height.
 8. The display panel according to claim 1,wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of first spacersand a plurality of second spacers, and a height of the first spacers issmaller than a height of the second spacers.
 9. The display panelaccording to claim 8, wherein the first spacers in the peripheral regionare disposed over the dummy color filter patterns and the second spacersin the peripheral region are disposed within the second blank areas. 10.The display panel according to claim 9, wherein the first spacers in theperipheral region props against the active device array substrate andthe second spacers in the active region props against the active devicearray substrate.
 11. The display panel according to claim 9, wherein thesecond spacers in the peripheral region keep a distance from the activedevice array layer and the first spacers in the active region keep adistance from the active device array substrate.
 12. The display panelaccording to claim 1, wherein the dummy color filter patterns arearranged in a checkerboard manner in the peripheral region.
 13. Thedisplay panel according to claim 1, wherein the dummy color filterpatterns are arranged in a random manner in the peripheral region. 14.The display panel according to claim 1, wherein at least one of thedummy color filter patterns comprises an opening to define the secondblank area.
 15. The display panel according to claim 14, wherein a sizeof the opening of the at least one dummy color filter pattern issubstantially equal to a size of a bottom surface of the second spacers.